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SITUATION REPORT 2006-16c

Previous SITREPs posted at: http://dola.colorado.gov/dem/operations/sitreps/sitreps.htm

Press Releases posted at: http://dola.colorado.gov/dem/Press/press_releases.htm

Report Date: 2400 hours, December 28, 2006

Event Type: Blizzard

Situation: An estimated six (6) semi-trucks are jack-knifed or stuck on EB I-70 at Floyd Hill, creating lengthy back-ups of eastbound traffic and sending motorists into Idaho Springs until conditions improve. Shelter managers at Clear Creek Middle School report 122 are currently being sheltered and another approximately 100 are en route. In addition, another 45 are at the Georgetown shelter ( Georgetown Community Center), approximately 100 are at the McDonald’s in Idaho Springs, and an undetermined number are at an Idaho Springs restaurant (King’s Derby). The Colorado National Guard will deliver water, food and blankets to the two Clear Creek County shelters.

Adams County and Commerce City have officially issued disaster declarations. The city of Arvada has issued a snow emergency declaration.

Snow slide activity south of Ward (2049 hours) and in Eldora on Shelf Road (2132 hours) have closed county roads in Boulder County. No vehicles or persons caught in either slide..

Power outages reported in Lafayette, Louisville (2055 hrs.) and Erie (2105 hrs.), Boulder County EOC is reporting that Excel Energy will not be able to restore power until 0100 hours at the earliest.

Weld County reports that only primary routes are being plowed due to snow plows getting stuck on other routes (2300 hours).

Accident Alerts: Accident Alert is in effect in the following counties:

• Adams
• Arapahoe
• Clear Creek
• Douglas
• Elbert
• El Paso
• Gilpin
• Jefferson
• Kit Carson
• Larimer
• Park
• Pueblo
• Summit
• Weld

The Colorado State Patrol is working several accidents and motorist assists in all of the above listed counties. CDOT has plowed Colo. Hwy 128 and it is now open after having been closed for several hours. CDOT is currently working on Colo. Hwy 93 and it should be cleared in the next two hours.

Highway Closures:

• I-70 228 (west of Idaho Springs) to Eisenhower Tunnel has reopened, as well as Loveland Pass.
• SH 86 is closed from Castle Rock to Franktown.
• Highway 6 is closed from Colfax Ave. to Highway 58.
• US 6 (Colfax to CO 58)
• I-70 WB (Morrison to El Rancho)
• US 285 (Brighton to Greeley)
• US 285 (Ault to Wyoming State Line)
• I-25 ( Ft. Collins to Wyoming State Line)
• US 287 ( Ft. Collins to Wyoming State Line)
• CO 93 (CO 72 to Boulder)

Shelters Open: (Total capacity stands at 780)

Boulder County reports the Red Cross has identified New Vista School, formerly Baseline Middle School as a shelter and available if the need arises.

Due to the winter snowstorm, some flights operating to/from Denver International Airport between 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. on Thursday, December 28, 2006, have been canceled. Some flights operating to/from DIA between 6 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Friday, December 29, 2006, have also been canceled. We continue to work to accommodate our customers and get them to their destinations safely and as soon as possible.

An updated list is in WebEOC.

Weather Report: Very heavy snow on the east slopes of the front range will gradually decrease through 1 am. Snowfall rates of an inch per hour will still be common in areas west and southwest of Denver. Many roads will still have difficult to impossible travel conditions and some area highways have been closed due to poor conditions or accidents.

Agencies Involved: Adams County EOC, American Red Cross, Arapahoe County EOC, Arvada OEM, Brighton OEM, Broomfield EOC, Boulder EOC, Clear Creek EOC, Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado Department of Military and Veteran Affairs, Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado Division of Emergency Management, Colorado Division of Fire Safety,

Colorado Springs EOC, Colorado State Patrol, Denver EOC, Douglas County EOC, El Paso Count y EOC, Elbert county EOC, Jefferson County EOC, Lakewood OEM, Salvation Army, Westminster OEM.

Misc. Information: CDOT has a website where they post the up-to-the-minute road conditions. http:// www.cotrip.org, the upper left hand field is Travel Information, select the 1st entry, “Road Conditions.” This page has a scroll down bar, Select a Report to View, which will give you a more customized report tailored to your Regions.

DEM Communications officer will be monitoring DTRS (800MHz) MAC 1 and MAC 21.

WebEOC information: http://www.dem.state.co.us/eoc6/ Incident name Winter Storm Dec 28.